The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has shared the names of the pilots who lost their lives in a plane crash near Great Brak River in George on Thursday morning.
SACAA’s 33 year old aircraft went off the radar soon after taking off from George, and was later discovered to have crashed in a mountainous area in Mosselbay.
The jet was being used as a flight inspection unit to test out flight calibration and navigational tools and the three staff members who were on the flight died.
In a statement SACAA has identified the trio as Captain Thabiso Collins Tolo, 49; First Officer Tebogo Caroline Lekalakala, 33, and Flight Inspector Gugu Comfort Mguni, 36.
Company chief executive Poppy Khoza said the staff were devastated by the tragedy.
“This is a difficult time for us; usually it is the CAA, as the regulator, that has to speak on accidents that occur in the industry, not one of our own. This is the first time that such an accident has taken place involving an aircraft that belongs to the CAA.”
According to SACAA chief executive, Poppy Khoza the three victims of the George plane crash were experienced members of the aviation industry.
Read the statement issued by SACAA here.
According to the South African, transport minister Fikile Mbalula as well as other government officials have conveyed their condolence messages.